Only 6,800 grades were issued for A/AS Levels in autumn 2021 according to the latest JCQ figures.

The cohort was considerably smaller than in autumn 2020 when approximately 17,000 grades were issued.

The autumn series was part of the arrangements for 2021 put in place following the cancellation of the summer exams. This additional exam series provided students who would like to improve their grade or who were unable to receive a grade in the summer, with the chance to take an exam.

Most A Level entries in the autumn series (89%) were from students that already had a grade from summer 2021.

The autumn series was not a typical re-sit series since learners did not take exams in the summer, so assumptions that students might improve their grade do not apply.  Of the students who had an A Level grade from the summer, just under 40% improved their grade, around 30% had the same grade, and just over 30% received a lower grade.  Those students who did not improve their grade will be able to use their grade from the summer.

Ofqual has published a blog on grading for the autumn series, which was aligned to summer 2021.